Word on the Reef

In this special Election Edition of Word on the Reef , Tanya Murphy and Brett Goodban dive into one of the most critical questions facing Australians ahead of the Federal Election: Who has the best plan to save the Great Barrier Reef? To find out, we’re joined by Maria Poulos Conklin , Head of Government Relations at the Australian Conservation Foundation, who breaks down ACF's powerful Elect...

The federal election is just two weeks away — and it turns out some politicians are still floundering when it comes to climate change. While the Reef suffers, some parties are busy serving up red herrings instead of real solutions.   This week Tanya Murphy and Brett Goodban dive into the national emergency that should be making front-page news: the GBR's sixth mass coral bleaching in nine yea...

This week, our guest is West Australian coral ecologist Associate Professor Zoe Richards , who's had some extraordinary dives - with crocodiles, on nuclear bomb sites, and discovering new coral species! We'll journey to Micronesia to uncover an ancient civilisation that built mysterious structures from coral, and to Western Australia's World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef, the world’...

This week we're heading back to spectacular Lizard Island to uncover what’s changed since last year’s record-breaking coral bleaching event.  New research station co-director Dr David Abrego takes us a vivid tour of this world-renowned reef science hub and shares the sobering reality of back-to-back bleaching events that are pushing corals to the brink.  From flying over glittering turquoise...

This week, we dive deep into the heart of the Great Barrier Reef’s current coral bleaching crisis with marine social scientist and CEO of Divers for Climate, Dr. Yolanda Waters. 🔬 What’s causing this widespread bleaching event?  🌍 How does reef tourism play a crucial role in protecting our oceans?  🤿 What can divers, snorkelers, and everyday citizens do to take action? Join us as we explore Yol...

This week, conservationist, photographer and filmmaker Christian Miller takes us on an unforgettable journey — from swimming alongside the planet’s largest animal, to eavesdropping on a humpback whale krill hunt. Along the way, we’ll dodge jaguars and flesh-eating ants in the Amazon, and learn why you can’t hide anything from a whale (spoiler: they can literally see through you). Strap in — it’s a...

This week, marine biologist and underwater photographer Lawrence Scheele takes us beneath the surface at Magnetic Island for a wild and wonderful tour of its marine life. Discover how jellyfish can detect and dodge humans (despite having no brains), why attempting sign language with a cuttlefish is a big mistake, and how to spot the telltale signs that an octopus might be living in your neighbourh...

In our Season Two premiere, WOTR is now a live radio show! Host Tanya Murphy opens up about how the underwater world transformed her life - and we welcome a brand new co-host, Brett Goodban . After 16,000 dives on the Great Barrier Reef, a mystery illness nearly ended Brett's life. Doctors said " You'll never dive again ." Stripped of his identity and purpose, Brett spiralled i...

In this jam-packed finale to our three-part series, Master Reef Guide Tahn Miller joins host Tanya Murphy to finally reveal the top three most iconic animals to see on the Reef - and our insider secrets on where, when, and how to find them. If you’re planning a Reef adventure, you won't want to miss this episode! This is Part 3 of our fan-favourite series, "Top 8 Animals to See on the Gr...

Today we're continuing our countdown of the Top 8 Fantastic Beasts of the Great Barrier Reef and Where to Find Them, with Master Reef Guide Tahn Miller. You won't believe some of the encounters he's had with today's animals! Follow Tahn on Instagram Support the show Help Keep Word on the Reef Afloat! Please take 2 minutes to fill out our Word on the Reef Listener Survey to help...

The Great Barrier Reef has just experienced its worst summer on record, with cyclones, severe rainfall, flooding, and its most extreme coral bleaching event ever. The World Heritage Committee has expressed concerns that the Australian Government isn't doing enough to protect the Reef, particularly regarding its climate policies, and advised the Reef may face a possible 'In Danger' l...

Tahn Miller is a Master Reef Guide who has spent 14 years observing and teaching people about magical creatures on the Great Barrier Reef. Join us as we swap crazy stories about close encounters with these incredible animals, while counting down the Top 8 Fantastic Beasts of the Great Barrier Reef and Where to Find Them! (JK Rowling reference, for the Muggles out there). Follow @TahnMiller on Inst...

Winter is an incredible time to see, hear, and even swim with whales on the Great Barrier Reef! But they also get up to some pretty weird things, and today we'll learn all about the secrets of whales from someone who has dedicated his life to studying them. Sign the petition to stop whale entanglements in shark nets  Learn more about " Humpbacks and High Rises " Help whales with the...

It's official - we are in the midst of the world’s worst coral bleaching event on record, affecting two thirds of corals globally, spanning some 64 countries and territories. We've already explored some of the impacts on the Great Barrier Reef - this week we'll head overseas to find out about the impacts in other countries. To see the map discussed in this episode: https://www.noaa....

In the 1960s, the future of the Great Barrier Reef was in jeopardy when a covert deal to drill for oil threatened its survival. A brave group of volunteers took on powerful forces and won, saving the Reef for future generations. Today we're talking with two of those heroes - Eddie Hegerl and Di Tarte. This episode reveals their inspiring fight and why their battle still matters today. Support...

In the late 1960s, the Great Barrier Reef faced destruction from coral mining to supply materials for fertilizer and concrete. Few knew or cared about it, until a group of passionate volunteers stepped in to stop the devastation. In this episode, we meet Eddie Hegerl and Di Tarte, two of the original trailblazers who fought to protect the Reef. Hear their powerful story and explore the hidden hist...

🐢  Sea turtles can grow to the size of a table, navigate using magnets in their brain, and fight off gangs of sharks. 🦈  But after 100 million years in our oceans, their existence is now under threat. This week we visit Raine Island with Marine Biologist and Emmy-winning cinematographer Richard Fitzpatrick to find out why. Support the show Help Keep Word on the Reef Afloat! Please take 2 minutes...

This week we visit a coral nursery near Port Douglas, to see how tourism operators are teaming up with scientists to care for their patches of reef. The Coral Nurture Program is showing promising results - but what are its limitations, and what role does it play in protecting our Reef? 🪸 Support the show Help Keep Word on the Reef Afloat! Please take 2 minutes to fill out our Word on the Reef Lis...

The Marine Park Authority has confirmed the Great Barrier Reef is experiencing its seventh mass coral bleaching event - the fifth in just eight years, driven by global warming 🫠 This week we head to stunning Lizard Island to find out what's causing this disaster and what we can all do to help 🏝️  Note: At the end of the episode I mentioned a petition you can sign to help protect the Reef; I&...

“The Reef is our nervous system. It’s made up of land, sea , sky, animals, and people… Once we destroy that nervous system, it’s critical damage for our body. Because we are all one ." 🙌🏽 🌏 This week, Gooreng Gooreng man Malachi Johnson talks about how Indigenous ways of viewing the world can help us heal our relationship with the Reef, heal our relationship with each other, and ultimately...

The Marine Park Authority has confirmed severe coral bleaching is unfolding on the southern section of the Great Barrier Reef 🪸 So this week, we head to Heron Island to meet the island's chief scientist and see first-hand what's happening 🏝️. Support the show Help Keep Word on the Reef Afloat! Please take 2 minutes to fill out our Word on the Reef Listener Survey to help us apply for fu...

What is the limit of coral resilience? To help us unpack this question, this week we're joined by Dr Kate Quigley, a molecular ecologist who has spent years studying corals up close 🪸. Lately, Kate has been selectively breeding corals to try and increase their heat tolerance 🫠 - a race against time as the Reef starts to show the first signs of coral bleaching for 2024. Together, we break do...

This week we're off on a snorkelling adventure to meet the curious creatures who built the Great Barrier Reef. 🪸 On this fun and immersive tour, learn which types of coral grow on the Reef, what it's made from, how it grows, what it eats, how it reproduces, what poses the biggest threat to its existence, and what we can all do to protect it! Support the show Help Keep Word on the Reef A...

Meet our host and tour guide Tanya for a scenic flight over the world's largest Reef. ✈️  We'll spot some marine life 🐳 and learn about how the Reef was formed, its history, and some of the threats it is facing. You won’t believe what we’ll see along the way! Support the show Help Keep Word on the Reef Afloat! Please take 2 minutes to fill out our Word on the Reef Listener Survey to hel...